No new nightspots for 3 mayoralties
No new nightspots for 3 mayoralties
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will not issue
operational permits for new establishments in South, Central and
East Jakarta, an official said.
Deputy Governor for Social Welfare R.S. Museno said yesterday
that the three mayoralties are not appropriate for
establishments, because they are plotted as residential areas.
The existing number of night spots in the three mayoralties is
enough, he said.
"According to a regulation, an establishment cannot be opened
in a residential area. The city administration plans to uphold
the regulation," Museno said.
He explained that the city administration will grant permits
to those intending to open entertainment centers in North and
West Jakarta.
There are presently a total of 3,233 establishments in the
city, consisting of various entertainment centers such as bars
and pubs, movie theaters, massage parlors and discotheques.
According to data provided by the city public order office,
there are a total of 899 establishments in Central Jakarta, 787
in South Jakarta and 268 in East Jakarta. In North Jakarta, there
are 443 establishments, with 836 in West Jakarta.
On Thursday, the head of the city's public order office,
Kusaeni Budiantoro, said that his office will not grant permits
to new discotheques in the city, because the current number --
133 -- is adequate for Jakartans.
The decision is expected to be the final effort by the city
administration to clean the city's discotheques, as many of them
have been used for drug trafficking.
Seventeen discotheques have been warned over Ecstasy deals.
Data from the public order office shows that from April to
June this year, 35 discotheques were temporary closed down by the
office for violating the regulations.
During a police raid at the Poster cafe conducted two days
ago, hundreds of Ecstasy pills were found scattered on the floor.
The raid follows three other recent raids, bringing the total to
four this month.
Earlier this week, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja ordered the city
tourism agency to close down any discotheques caught being used
for trafficking Ecstasy pills or other illegal substances.
Museno also said yesterday that the administration would
prefer to have establishment owners imprisoned for such
violations rather than fining them.
"The Rp 50,000 fine is too small. I think it will be more
effective if they are put in prison," Museno said. (yns)